seeman



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

E. H J. SEEMAN. DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING PERSONS'IN MID-AIR WITHOUT VISIBLE SUPPORT.

Patented Apr. 11, 1882.

N. PETERS. muwunw n m. Wahingioll. u.c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. H. J. SE'EMAN.

DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING PERSONS IN MID-AIR WITHOUT VISIBLE SUPPORT.

No. 256.388. Patented Apr. 11,1882..

u. PETERS. mwmw m lm. Washingwn. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT Orr n nansrr' H. J. SEEMAN, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR'SUSPENDING PERSONS lN MID-AIR WITHOUT VISlBLE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,388, dated April 11,1882.

Application filed January 25, 1882. (No' model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST HARTWIG J OHAN SEEMAN, a subject of the Empire of Germany, residin gin Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Device for suspending Persons in Mid-Air Without Visible Support, of which the following is a specification,reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has for its object the construction of a machine for magical. performances by which persons can be suspended in-the air without apparentsupport; and itconsistsin the construction and arrangement of its several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofrthe machine; Fig. 2, a view of the pivotal frame in which the sleeve is journaled Fig. 3, a rear elevation; Fig. 4, a detail of the rod attachments Fig. 5, a front elevation of the machine-frame with the pivotal frame in position on it 5 Fig. 6, aside and end elevation of the outer plate, and Fig. 7 a side and end elevation of the inner plate. A is the frame to which the mechanism is attached. It consists of the standards a a, connected by the bars a. The lower ends of the standards are bent at right angles, and form feet (1. by which they are bolted to a movable truck or to a table; Journaled between the brackets a a secured to the bars a a of the standards, is a universal joint or pivotal frame, a. 1t operates in the open space between the bars a a, and has journaled in it the sleeve within which the pole operates, as shown. n

B is the sleeve. Upon its forward portion is formed a rectangular shoulder,b, from each side of which project the pivot-pins b, as shown, and upon the rear end of the sleeve is a ratchet-wheel, b which is controlled by the pawl c, pivoted to the wheel 0 of the pole.

G is the pole. It is of round iron or steel, highly polished, so that the rays of light will be reflected from it. It is run through the sleeve B and can be rotated therein by the wheeltyfwhich is keyed upon it. Its outer end is square, as shown, and fits into a socket around the waist of the person suspended.

The pole extends a short distance in the rear of the machine, and a weight can be attached to counterbalance the weight of the person upon the outer end. It willbe seen that the outer end of the pole can be moved in any direction by the pivotal frame a and the sleeve B.

D and E are plates which slide over each other upon the rear side of the standards and byineans of which the pole can be moved either up or down from side to side or diagonally. The plate D is the inner or the. one next to the standards. It is provided with a centrally-located horizontal slot, 07-, of sufficient width to permit the passage of the sleeve .B, and with vertical guide-slots d d, which fit over guide-projections upon the standards a a. In its upper and lower edges are recesses 01 (1 which allow the plate to move up'or down over the projections for the outer plate,

E. Upon its outer side is a rack, (1 by which the. plate can be moved up or down. This plate gives the pole its vertical motion. The outer plate, E, slides over or upon the plate D and imparts to the pole a horizontal movement. It has a centrally-located vertical slot, e, of sufficient width to admit the passage of the sleeve B, and horizontal guide-slots e,

which fit over studs 0. on the standards. Nuts are screwed onto these studs to hold the plates imposition. Upon the bottom of this plate is a rack, 0 by which it is moved to the right or left. 1

F is an an gle-plate which affords attachment for the actuating mechanism. It is bolted to studs f upon the rear of the standards. Its vertical arm passes adjacent to the right side of the plates D and E, and its horizontal arm passes along the bottom of the plates parallel with the lower bar, a, as shown.

G is a gear-wheel journaled between the horizontal arm f and the bar a, and is provided with a small pinion,g,npon its axis, which engages with the rack 6 as shown. The large gear is actuated by the pinion 'g, which is provided with a crank, g as shown.

J ournaled between the vertical arm of the plate f and the standard is the gear-wheel H.

IOO

gear is actuated by the pinion hand its crank k 7b3 is a ratehet-wheel placed upon the axle of the gear H outside the arm f, and engages with a pawl, 7L pivoted on the arm f. as shown. This prevents the plate from running down by its own weight when raised by the crank.

In the operation of the machine the standards are bolted to a movable truck or to a table placed upon the stage. A velvet curtain with a slit in it for the pole to run through is hungin front ofthe machine. An iron belt with a socket at the back, in which the square end of the pole is inserted, is secured around the waist of the person to be suspended. The

, person is then raised from the ground by turning the crank it and lowering the plate D. The side movement is secured by turning the crank 9 The diagonal movement is secured by a combination of the movements of both plates. The rod is rendered invisible by the high polish upon it, which makes the color of the curtain visible upon the rod. The apparatus is so arranged with reference to the surroundings that the pole will always be seen between the curtain and the point of vision.

What I claim is 1. The sleeve 13, provided with rectangular shoulders 1) upon its forward portion and a ratchet-wheel, b upon its rear portion, and journaled within the pivotal frame a*, substantially as shown and described.

2. The standards a 0, bars a a, and brackets a a in combination with the pivotal frame at and sleeve B, all arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

3. The pole G, provided with a wheel, 0, and pawl c, which is controlled by the ratchet b and adapted to rotate the pole within the sleeve, substantially as shown and described.

4. The pole O, sleeve B, pivotal frame a", and brackets a, in combination with the plates D and E, all arranged and operating substantially as shown and described.

5. The plate D, having formed in it a horizontal slot, d, vertical guide-slots d, recesses (1 and provided with a rack, d adapted to be raised up or down by the gear H and its pinion h, substantially as shown and described.

6. The plate E, having formed in it a vertical slot, 0, guide-slots c e, and a rack, 0 upon its lower edge, which is engaged by the actuating mechanism consisting of the gear G, and pinions g g, all arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination of the plates D E and their actuating mechanism hereinbefore set forth with the standards a a and pole (3, all arranged and operating substantially as shown and described.

8. The combination of the pole O with the plate E, said plate being adapted to impart to the pole a vertical movement, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination of the pole O with the plate D, said plate being adapted to impart to the pole a lateral movement, substantially as shown and .described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNST HARTWIG JOHAN SEEMAN.

Witnesses:

A. DROEGMUNOT, MARIE ENTERLING- 

